I am writing a letter of support for my friend Richie Yow. I thought it would be relatively simple at first, but then I got to thinking, where do I start? I am not like a lot of people, just getting to know Richie in the last year or so when he became a candidate for the State House from District 53. I have actually known Richie’s family since long before Richie was born.

I am getting tired of the broken-record letters from the no-alcohol crowd who think they have some sort of a right to force their beliefs or emotions on the rest of us. One tells us about a mad dog who will have thousands, based on his 10 percent, of new alcoholics in Lancaster County as a result of an additional day of sales.

The needs of District 3 are no different than any other. We pay our taxes, take care of our property as best we can, support the city and county agendas, acknowledge our council members in a respectable manner and show love for our town. We live in homes that are historic, new and on the mend. We love our neighborhoods.

Here’s some advice to help Lancaster County Council. There is an ordinance before you regarding smoking. You have had numerous people speak for or against it; more, I might add, against. After the special-interest groups parade cancer survivors to speak and tug at your heart strings on how to save them or the rest of us. There’s a way you can get the actual truth about this issue on whether it’s worth taking more of our freedoms away.

In just a few days, the voters of Lancaster County will decide whether to allow alcohol by the drink on Sunday.
We were told in the Oct. 12 edition of The Lancaster News by those supporters that this will bring more jobs and improve the quality of life for all Lancaster residents.

Lancaster County residents missed a fantastic event on Oct 13. Storytelling in the Park hosted by the Carolinas Literacy Network was an enjoyable and stimulating event held at Andrew Jackson State Park.
Each storyteller had their unique style that enhanced their presentation. Cathy Jo Jansen and Flynn Crooks brought Thumblelina to life in their rendition of the familiar fairy tale. Andy Offut Irwin used different voices, singing and whistling to entertain the audience.

Recently, I was at a local event where one of the speakers encouraged voters to vote a straight ticket. The speaker used a scare tactic stating that voting a straight ticket would make it easier to ensure a mistake was not made.
I am asking voters not to vote straight ticket and go a step more to vote for Joseph Coy, petition candidate for the S.C. House District 44 seat. Joseph Coy is the best choice in this race for the S.C. House. He has the leadership skills and common sense we need in Columbia.

U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney’s score card is one of the worst in Congress. He has sponsored 43 bills, zero passed.
He has co-sponsored 216 bills, only six have passed into law.
In a Huffington Post story, Mulvaney ranked the lowest in educational speaking level, speaking at the level of a high school sophomore.
He almost always follows the tea party line, which means no negotiation and more gridlock, as we approach the financial cliff of mandatory hard cuts.

The Upper Palmetto Chapter of the American Red Cross will be hosting the Drive 4 UR Community event at our newly finished Lancaster office from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 30. The event will give Lancaster community members and Red Cross volunteers the opportunity to become familiar with our new office location at the new state-of-the-art Emergency Management Facility at 111 Covenant Place.
We have partnered with Burns Ford to hold the Drive 4 UR Community event. Through Drive 4 UR Community we are planning on raising $6,000 for the Upper Palmetto Red Cross.